Contractor faces old warrant, new felonies

NORWICH – For the past 14 years an arrest warrant has lingered over the head of a Coventry man wanted for forgery. After living in Chenango County for the past 11 years, he’s facing several new charges involving the alleged theft of over $30,000.

Joseph N. Wright, 35, of Greene, was indicted for felony forgery by a Chenango County grand jury in 1995 for allegedly signing the name of the victim to withdraw $175 dollars from her bank account.

Police arrested Wright in February on new charges of felony larceny after an investigation showed that his contracting company took money from Norwich and Greene residents, but allegedly failed to deposit the money in a trust account.

New York State Law requires that contractors hold paid amounts in an escrow account while work is in progress.